Pro Sports

Gary Kubiak: Denver Broncos in 'no hurry' to add quarterback

Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak talks about Peyton Manning's career as a Bronco. (John Leyba / The Denver Post)

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Gary Kubiak sat down for breakfast Tuesday and before he could eat his first bite of watermelon was asked how he was digesting the Broncos' uncertainty at quarterback.

They are the first team since the 2000 Baltimore Ravens to lose their top two players at the position, and no recent defending champ has gone this late into the offseason without knowing who its starter is.

"We are in no hurry to add a quarterback. We talk about it every day. The important thing is that we get it right, not rush it," Kubiak said at the coaches' breakfast at the NFL owners meetings. "It's going to be a competitive situation. May the best man win."

The Broncos' acquisition of Mark Sanchez allows for patience with the decision. Kubiak said Sanchez will learn Denver's offense quickly because of his familiarity with the verbiage dating to his days at the University of Southern California.

Eager to embrace the challenge of repeating, beginning with offseason workouts on April 18, Kubiak addressed multiple topics during a wide-ranging interview that lasted more than an hour at the Boca Raton Resort and Beach Club.

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The highlights

On the locker room void created by Peyton Manning's retirement:

"A lot of guys leaned on him, a lot of the people in the organization leaned on him. That is a big locker to fill. ... It's time for Emmanuel (Sanders) and DT (Demaryius Thomas) to take on more of a leadership role."

Kubiak intends to move around the receivers more in the offense to create opportunities, and he said the key for Thomas to rebound is to limit drops. "He had some balls go through his hands. You go back and look at those, and his year could have been just as big. They are two great players who we have a lot of confidence in and we need to do everything we can to get them touching the football as much as we can."

Kubiak also spoke with Jordan Norwood on the phone Monday as the team attempts to re-sign him for receiving depth and punt-return duty.

On plan for C.J. Anderson after big contract:

"We need to be a better offense than we were last year. C.J. played his best football at the end of the year. I don't think he has reached the heights he can reach," Kubiak said. "He's just getting started. If he can stay healthy for 16 weeks I think he can be one of the top backs in the league." Kubiak didn't rule out trying to sign free agent Arian Foster for depth, but he's currently rehabbing an injury, putting any pursuit on the backburner.

On whether Brock Osweiler's benching impacted his decision to leave for Houston as a free agent:

"I don't know. You'd have to ask him that. But I was the one who put him in there and believed in him," said Kubiak, who added he talked with Osweiler after he signed with the Texans to wish him well. "It's up to us to find the next Brock Osweiler."

"I am happy for him. I believe you should enjoy it," Kubiak said. He did not see Miller's debut Monday on "Dancing With the Stars," but wasn't surprised he did well. He's hoping Miller will be at offseason workouts as the Broncos try to work out a long-term contract after placing the exclusive franchise tag on the outside linebacker. Thomas skipped the offseason practices a year ago.

On the roles of tight end Jeff Heuerman and Ty Sambrailo, who will see time at guard after playing left tackle last season:

"We feel like Jeff can be a total tight end. We are counting him on great deal with Virgil (Green). It's a big offseason for him," Kubiak said. Heuerman will be a full participant when the team begins offseason workouts; he had knee surgery last May. Kubiak said the Broncos haven't ruled out bringing back veteran Owen Daniels, who was cut earlier this offseason to help clear salary-cap space.

Sambrailo could be limited in some drills as he recovers from shoulder surgery on his labrum. "Ty is starting over. He's like a rookie again. The biggest thing is that his flexibility helps us with the additions on our team (tackles Russell Okung and Donald Stephenson). We have to get him healthy."

On replacing departed free agents Danny Trevathan and Malik Jackson:

Kubiak said Todd Davis and Corey Nelson will compete for a starting job at inside linebacker after Trevathan's exit. There is a chance Brandon Marshall will shift over to Trevathan's position, leaving Davis and Nelson to vie for his spot. As for Jackson, Kubiak mentioned additional reps for veteran Vance Walker and former Maryland star Darius Kilgo, who was inactive most of last season.

On the challenge of repeating as Super Bowl champs:

"You all know that I am close to (former Broncos coach) Mike (Shanahan). I talk to Mike a great deal. I lean on Mike through conversation, but I lean more on Mike through my experience with him. I don't bother him every Wednesday. I go back and think about how he approached things," Kubiak said of Shanahan's Broncos teams that won back-to-back titles in 1997 and 1998. "Obviously I learned a lot from John (Elway), too. We will have new faces. It's exciting, the challenge. It's going to be different. We have a really good team."

On the return of the fullback to the roster:

Kubiak said the fullback will be back. It didn't work out last season as the offense changed and James Casey dealt with knee injuries. Kubiak said he is looking at the draft as a possible avenue to add a fullback.

On if defensive coordinator Wade Phillips ever considered walking off into the sunset after finally winning a Super Bowl after nearly four decades coaching:

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